Effects of the Dietary Inclusion of Sea Mud on the Growth and Body Composition of Juvenile Sea Cucumbers Apostichopus japonicus

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of dietary inclusion of sea mud on growth and body composition of juvenile sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus. In experiment 1, three experimental diets containing sea mud at the level of 0, 30 and 60% were prepared. After feeding trial for 7 weeks, survival was not significantly different among groups. Final mean weight of sea cucumber fed the experimental diet without sea mud supplementation was significantly higher than that of sea cucumber fed the diet containing 30 and 60% sea mud. In experiment 2, three experimental diets containing sea mud at the levels of 0, 15 and 30% were prepared. After feeding trial for 19 weeks, survival was not significantly different among groups. Final mean weight of sea cucumber fed the diet without sea mud supplementation was not significantly different from that of 15%, but was significantly higher than that of sea cucumber fed the diet containing 30% sea mud. It was concluded that dietary inclusion of sea mud may inhibit growth of sea cucumber.

Effects of sulphur type and concentration on growth performance, body composition and resistance of juvenile sea cucumber ( Apostichopus japonicus ) subjected to air and low salinity exposure stressors

“…Several studies have been performed on development of formulated diets for sea cucumber, such as optimum dietary protein and lipid levels (Liao et al, 2017; Seo & Lee, 2011) and carbohydrate level (Xia et al, 2015), dietary inclusion effect of sea mud (Kim et al, 2016), and dietary substitution effect of Sargassum thunbergii with different plant ingredients ( Saccharina japonica , Undaria pinnatifida , Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata , distilled dried grain, fermented soybean and rice straw powder) (Seo et al, 2011) and macroalgae ( S .…”

“…polycystum and Laminaria japonica ) (Liu et al, 2010), but knowledge on artificially nutrition‐balanced diet that is capable of improving production of commercially important sea cucumber is still limited (Yuan et al, 2006; Zhou et al, 2006). Since sea cucumber culture in Korea heavily depends on the imported feed from China (Kim et al, 2016), it is highly required to develop practically suitable diet for domestic sea cucumber culture.…”

Untitled

“…Whereas, feed development of sea cucumber aquaculture for the current state in South Korea has known to be inadequate. Besides, sea cucumber culture depends on imported feeds that mostly come fro m untrusted sources that have not been tested in South Korean culture environ ment (Kim et al, 2016). According to what was mentioned, it seems necessary for researchers to develop a high quality feed with reasonable price.…”